Whereas, all crime victims suffer
violation of their persons, property and trust, and over 64,000 crimes were
reported to have occurred in Vermont in 2006, and

Whereas, policymakers in Vermont have
recognized and embraced the need to empower crime victims and seek to make victims
the center of state policy in our criminal and juvenile justice systems, and

Whereas, members of the general
public, both in their professional roles as clergy, educators, employers,
medical professionals and public servants, and as volunteer community members,
work to support and help crime victims and survivors in their recovery, and

Whereas, within Vermont, important
public and private partnerships have been forged among criminal and juvenile
justice agencies, allied professionals and social service providers to ensure
that crime victims are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve, and

Whereas, the victims’ rights movement
in Vermont has expanded community‑based efforts to build community while
helping victims and survivors rebuild their lives, now therefore be it

Resolved by the Senate and
House of Representatives:

That the General Assembly
recognizes the courage and selflessness of members of the Vermont
Victim/Survivor of Crime Council who have turned personal tragedy into a
motivating force to improve the rights and treatment of other victims of crime
and build a better, more just community in Vermont and the nation, and be it
further

Resolved:That the General Assembly
recognizes the importance of ensuring that crime victims are afforded the
greatest possible right to participate in the criminal justice process and
encourages efforts to achieve this important goal, both during National Crime
Victims’ Rights Week, which will be observed April 13–19, 2008, and throughout
the year, and be it further

Resolved:That the Secretary
of State be directed to send a copy of this resolution to Judy Rex, executive
director of the state of Vermont center for crime victim services in Waterbury.